posted Thursday, September 24, 2015 10:44:58 PMI'm pleased to announce that Canadian Duo First Division and one of the illest producers in the underground, Marco Polo, are down for a Q&A session tomorrow at noon. It's going to coincide with First Divisions debut album Overworked & Underpaid, dropping tomorrow as well.

For those unfamiliar with First Division they dropped two EP's last year, The Critical Path Parts 1 and 2, that featured the likes of D.V. Alias Khryst, Edo. G, Grand Daddy I.U., Torae, 9th Uno, Roc Marciano and Supastition.

Some of their tracks...

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PatrickBateman_onThe1s&2s (Snitch)

Total Posts: 5825Member Since: 7/30/2015Location: Dorsia

posted Thursday, September 24, 2015 11:12:16 PMWhat is it like being white in hip hop?

Which albums from this year are you most pleased with?

Shylow, Which hip hop record are you trying to find that you can't? (cd or vinyl)

Marco Polo/FD -who is your favorite radio djs? favorite shows?

Marco POLO- WILL you produce a strictly Boom BAP Ep for WEstsideGunn to rhyme over? it would be so random and awesome you already know!

FD- favorite record label (name some albums that were epic for you on that label)

you guys are canadian right? thoughts on Admiral Buttplug?

Marco Polo- That beat you did for Masta Ace is ineffable

this Album kinda snuck up on a bunch of us. was that your intentions?

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NoHeadlights

Total Posts: 56307Member Since: 2006Location: Whattup Fosters. You know I been drinkin nuffin but dem good limited release beers, all Double IPA's

You guys seem to get top notch features and producers for your albums/mixtapes. For a group just releasing their debut album how are you guys able to network to the point of getting all of them to hop on board? Is it word of mouth? Social media? Your affiliation with Marco?

What emcees/groups did you look up to and/or form your styles from as you were getting into the game?

Any emcees or producers you've yet to work with that you would like to one day collab with?

For Marco Polo...

You had some nice tributes to Pumpkinhead since his passing. What was it like to work with him? Do you have any unreleased PH verses in the vault that might one day see the light of day?

Is there one album of yours you like more than the others?

When's the next album dropping and is it a one producer/once emcee or a producer comp?

Your Top 5 emcees right now?

Favorite beat you've ever done?

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MarcoPoloBeats

Total Posts: 11Member Since: 9/25/2015

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 11:54:52 AMWasssup y'all! I'm completely new to this. How can I respond to individual posts so I can knock out each question with some sort of order ??? haha CONGRATS TO FIRST DIVISION!

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Clockworx (Admin)

Total Posts: 43851Member Since: 2012Location: The burbs of NJ

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 11:58:41 AMWhat up Marco? What heads in the past have done is cut/paste the question(s), put them in quotes and answer underneath. Good looks on entertaining some questions.

Marco, are there any other albums you're workin on or will be workin on with one MC? Maybe Double Berrel 2 with Torae?? That first one is great!!

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Quest (Admin)

Total Posts: 16002Member Since: 1999Location: Boston, MA - USA

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 12:03:32 PMQuestion for First Division - what is your favorite cut off the new album and why?

Marco Polo - who is your favorite artist to work with and why?

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Clockworx (Admin)

Total Posts: 43851Member Since: 2012Location: The burbs of NJ

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 12:04:58 PMYou both have worked with The Doppelgangaz in certain aspects. That says something since they dont really branch out too often. Any more future collabs with them in the works?

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MarcoPoloBeats

Total Posts: 11Member Since: 9/25/2015

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 12:11:13 PM"What is it like being white in hip hop?"

Never really pay attention to that haha, hasn't been an issue for me thus far.

"Which albums from this year are you most pleased with?"

Kendrick's album stands out for sure. Also the new GangGrene. Mentioning FD is biased but fuck it, the new FD album!

"Marco Polo/FD -who is your favorite radio djs? favorite shows?"

DJ Eclipse on Halftime/Rap IS outta control, DJ Revolution of the Wake Up Show, DJ Premier on Live from HQ... those are definitely a few off hand but I know I'm forgetting many that support our music so salute to all of them and pardon my memory!

"Marco POLO- WILL you produce a strictly Boom BAP Ep for WEstsideGunn to rhyme over? it would be so random and awesome you already know!"

I don't know Westside Gunn personally but I'm down to work on something with him for sure.

"you guys are canadian right? thoughts on Admiral Buttplug?"

I am Canadian, Toronto born. No idea who is Admiral Buttplug is but sounds like a party!

"Marco Polo- That beat you did for Masta Ace is ineffable"

thank you very much.

"this Album kinda snuck up on a bunch of us. was that your intentions?"re: Port Authority.

We just wanted to introduce our music to the world. Glad "Port Authority" snuck up on anyone, very proud moment for myself and Shylow.

"You had some nice tributes to Pumpkinhead since his passing. What was it like to work with him? Do you have any unreleased PH verses in the vault that might one day see the light of day?"

Thats my brother for life. Even tho we hadn't spoke in a while he's responsible for a lot of underground heads knowing me. I don't have that much unreleased but I haven't checked all my old drives yet, who knows what I find. Respect to his family and kids. RIP PH!

"Is there one album of yours you like more than the others?"

hmmmm. depends on my mood. I definitely think PA2: The Director's cut represents my best production to date, just my personal thoughts. I'm proud of all my albums.

"When's the next album dropping and is it a one producer/once emcee or a producer comp?"

I'm taking a break from producer albums. But A-F-R-O and I have an EP in the works. Torae and I will do another album. Masta Ace and I will do an album. Shylow and I will do an EP, some other surprises too. stay tuned.

"Your Top 5 emcees right now?"

Kendrick, Milano, AFRO, FD....

"Favorite beat you've ever done?"

this also changes on my mood but at this moment "Astonishing" or "Earings Off".

"Marco, are there any other albums you're workin on or will be workin on with one MC? Maybe Double Berrel 2 with Torae?? That first one is great!!"

covered/answered this above and thanks for asking!

"You both have worked with The Doppelgangaz in certain aspects. That says something since they dont really branch out too often. Any more future collabs with them in the works?"

I only know about Doppel because Shylow put me onto them haha. Then I became a fan and reached out for my album. "R U GONNA EAT THAT" was fun to make as well as the video!

- Shy: Back in the day I used to listen to The Power Move Show on 88.1 CKLN in Toronto, that was my shit. After that I would say Mixtape Massacre but they're gone now too. Now I would have to say DJ Premier & the Live From HeadQCourterz show.

Favorite record label (name some albums that were epic for you on that label)

- Ex: Favorite label would have to be Rawkus. Company Flow, Soundbombing, Reflection Eternal & Black Star were highlights for me.

- Shy: Def Jam for me. So much classic shit on that label. Onyx first 3 albums, PE's first 4 albums, LL's first 4 albums. Man. EPMD - Business Never Personal. Too many albums yo, hahaha.

you guys are canadian right? thoughts on Admiral Buttplug?

- FD: Not even sure who or what that is, sorry!

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MarcoPoloBeats

Total Posts: 11Member Since: 9/25/2015

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 12:25:20 PM"You've been working a lot with Droogy can we expect to see more from you 2 in the future?"

Peace! Yes, Droog and I have a lot of unreleased music recorded. I have no idea what will happen with it. But in the meantime, you can check out all the joints we did on his last 2 EP's and "Hoodie Weather" f. Prodigy. Shouts to Yung Droogy, dope MC!

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 12:59:13 PMI have a question for all 3 of you. What are your thoughts on Wac Miller?? I personally feel his voice is corny as fuck and feel that an MC's voice is VERY important.

You guys seem to get top notch features and producers for your albums/mixtapes. For a group just releasing their debut album how are you guys able to network to the point of getting all of them to hop on board? Is it word of mouth? Social media? Your affiliation with Marco?

- Shy: Marco is responsible for the majority of the collabs we've been blessed to do. My working relationship with MP over the last 15 years has definitely afforded us some incredible perks. A couple connections I was able to pull off on my own like MindsOne and Grand Daddy I.U., but pretty much everything else is due to the homie Marco.

What emcees/groups did you look up to and/or form your styles from as you were getting into the game?

- Ex: Lord Finesse for his charisma, Company Flow for their beyond limits delivery. KRS-One & Chuck D for their clarity, message and powerful performances.

- Shy: Early on I'd say Lord Finesse, Big Daddy Kane and Special Ed were my biggest influences. When I get heavy into punchline rhyming in the late 90s it was all about Chino XL. Co-Flow was also instrumental in me developing my abilities to think outside the box, you can hear a lot of their influence on the Rebirth album.

Any emcees or producers you've yet to work with that you would like to one day collab with?

- Ex: Would definitely love to do something with Showbiz, and A.G. too. PF Cuttin's dope. Anyone from Bankai Fam, P General, all those dudes.

- Shy: Nottz and Pete Rock are on my bucket list for sure. I figure since we somehow pulled off doing a joint with Preem, anything is possible, hahahahah. Would love to do a joint with Masta Ace, Big Daddy Kane, Pharoahe Monch, Invincible. Too many to name.

You both have worked with The Doppelgangaz in certain aspects. That says something since they dont really branch out too often. Any more future collabs with them in the works?

- FD: Today we're releasing a video for our BeatWyze produced joint Pure that's on our album, Doppel directed that shit and it came out crazy. I'm sure we'll wind up doing more shit with those dudes in the future absolutely, those are the homies!!

Quest:

What is your favorite cut off the new album and why?

- Shy: This Iz Tha Time. Preemo's my hero, that song is an absolute dream come true for me, something i never thought in a million years would ever happen, and it came out exactly how I'd imagined it would.

- Ex: I'll second Shy with This Iz Tha Time, but if I had to pick an alternative it would be Pure, because it embodied every reason why we live for this rap shit, and it was natural as fuck.

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PatrickBateman_onThe1s&2s (Snitch)

Total Posts: 5825Member Since: 7/30/2015Location: Dorsia

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 12:59:53 PMshallow did you do cuts on this?

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 1:10:35 PM"I have a question for all 3 of you. What are your thoughts on Wac Miller?? I personally feel his voice is corny as fuck and feel that an MC's voice is VERY important."

I'm not informed or familiar enough with Mac Miller's music to have a detailed or educated opinion. But from the 1-2 joints I have heard he's definitely not wack and his voice doesn't bother me.

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 1:14:04 PMI appreciate all the questions for myself and my brothers Shylow & Expertise of First Division. We hope y'all check out the album and let people know about it. Word of mouth is all we got.

thank you all for taking the time to come thru. peace and have a great day.

How many records you guys copp annually? do you ever feel like supporting "real hiphop" gets in the way of real life?

- Shy: Supporting hip-hop IS real life for me, so no it doesn't get in the way. I can't say that I buy more than 2 or 3 new albums a year, not a lot of new shit grabs my attention like that so I mostly just concentrate on filling holes in the collection, 80s/90s gems and what not.

- Ex: No specific number, if i feel compelled to buy something I do whether it's old or new. collection wise I intend on getting my physical game up but until then, Shy supplies me with everything I need, hahahaha. My bad.

What is the last Emcee or producer album you bought and made you feel like you gotta step up your life game?

- FD: PA2 The Directors Cut.

Regarding Crime Library

- Shy: Yes indeed I did the cuts for that joint. Marco did the track for Vinnie and I caught a vibe as soon as I heard it, layed the shit down, MP sent it to Vinnie and the rest is history.

W!CkEd22

I have a question for all 3 of you. What are your thoughts on Wac Miller?? I personally feel his voice is corny as fuck and feel that an MC's voice is VERY important.

- Ex: He's a talented lyricist but his music isn't really our thing.

- Shy: Ditto

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PatrickBateman_onThe1s&2s (Snitch)

Total Posts: 5825Member Since: 7/30/2015Location: Dorsia

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 1:19:12 PM^^ lol at marco polo dipping out as soon as faggit ollie makes it to the party

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First Division

Total Posts: 5Member Since: 9/25/2015Location: Canada

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 1:19:16 PMThanks for all the questions y'all, appreciate being given the forum to speak on who we are and what we do. Hope y'all dig the album and be sure to check out the video we dropped today for Pure. Peace and have a great day!!!

shouts to 1st division, too! I'm def peeping the album soon as I got a couple extra coins to toss!

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88

Total Posts: 20346Member Since: 2008Location: What does god have to do with the pronunciation of a word?

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 1:57:16 PMhow did you manage to get last emperor on your album, marco? also, how's he doing? would you say he'll ever drop new music again, or was your track with him probably the last time we'll hear him?

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 2:58:55 PM^The fuck?! It ain't about any coasts, br0. HipHop is worldwide and dope HipHop is dope HipHop regardless where it's from. I never get people who are so specific like "I only listen to and support West Coast HipHop" or East Coast HipHop. If you're a true a HipHop head then you listen to and support anything dope and real regardless where in this world it's from. Act like you already know...

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The NWS

Total Posts: 1561Member Since: 7/2013/2015

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 3:07:12 PMur the douchbag loser that hates on southern rap for no other reason than where it came from. cool story tho bro.

thinking that hip hop is worldwide is about as stupid as you thinking you've grown up. east and west have never had any similarities in sound or subject matter and never will.

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Clockworx (Admin)

Total Posts: 43851Member Since: 2012Location: The burbs of NJ

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 6:34:27 PMI had to dip out a half hour into the Q&A to head to Cheesecake Factory but this turned out really, really dope. I love when heads come on here and answer questions in-depth cause it shows they give a shit about the fans. Shit i might cop their album just based off the fact they came on here.

Few observations...

Nice to see them all have Kendrick on their AOTY list. Although it took me awhile to get around to bumping it, its legit.

They all seem to been heavy influenced by 90s east coast boom bap producers which for me are the best the genre had to offer.

Marco hopefully will drop those unreleased Droog tracks. Also shout out to Da Grassroots and Frankenstein. Canadian legends for me.

That's dope that Dopp directed their new video. Hopefully that means more collabs in the works.

Lulz at none of them knowing who Dumple is.

All in all id say this is another successful Q&A. In the last few months we've had L'Orange, Doppelgangaz, Meyhem Lauren, and now First Division + Marco Polo. Not too fucking shabby.

posted Friday, September 25, 2015 10:56:31 PMomg omg nws 's panties getting stuck in his ass cause they said like kendra wack ass lamar. just safe politicly correct answers from mp and 1st. real heads kendra is not hip hop and that shit is wack. east started this and any quality west shit is insprired by the four fathers from the east. foh with this twisted views of hip hop